Washing machine



0 NELSON WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1919 Apr. 10, 1923 Q Q 7W.

Patented Apr. 10, 1923.

OTTO NELSON, OF CRYSTAL FALLS, MICHIGAN. V

WASHING MACHINE.

Applicatidn filed November 5, 1919. Serial No. 335,875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO NnLsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crystal Falls, in the county of Iron and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention provides means whereby an ordinary wash tub may be utilized as the body portion of a washing machine for containing the articles to be laundered together with the suds water and the agitating mechanism.

The invention consists of a cover, means for securing the cover to a wash tub or like receptacle and agitating means for moving the clothing whereby to detach and loosen the dirt in the process of laundering.

The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that in adapting the same I to meet different conditions, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spiritof the invent-ion as claimed hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a washing machine embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is a detail view of the cover as seen from the inner or lower side,

Figure 4*. is a detail view in elevation of the agitator,

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the brackets,

Figure 6 is a detail view of a draw bolt.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings, by like reference characters.

The body of the machine comprises a tub 1 which may be of ordinary construction and provided on opposite sides with handles 2 for convenience and manipulation.

A cover 3 closes the top side of the tub and obtains a close fit thereon to prevent the splash of water. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3 a suitable packing 3 is provided upon the under side of the cover and comes between said cover and the upper" edge of the tub 1 to insure a tight joint. A plurality of brackets 4 are secured to the edge portion of the cover 3. These brackets extend along the outer edge of the cover and depend from the latter a distance to engage the outer side of the tub near the top thereof thereby cen-v tering the cover and preventing lateral displacement thereof. Thedepending portions of the brackets 1- are deflected inwardly so as to engage the outer side of the tub and are bent outwardly as indicated at 5 and have the outer extremities of the offset edge 5 notched as indicated at 6 to receive the upper end of draw bolts 7, The lower ends of the draw bolts 7 are of hook form as indicated at 8 so asto engage the lower portion of the tub 1. The upper ends of the draw bolts are threaded for a short distance and receive thumb nuts 9 by means of which the parts are subjected to tension-so as to draw th1e) iover 3 close upon the upper edge of the tu An opening 10 is formed centrally in the cover 3 and may be of any configuration. A. door'll closes the opening 10 and is hinged at one edge to the cover as indicated at 12. Turn buttons 13 secure the door 11 in closed position. A handle 1e near the free edge of the door provides for convenient manipulation thereof. A suitable frame 15 is located at one side of the opening 10 and provides convenient means for attaching a wringer to the machine. The frame 15 may also serve as means for reinforcing the cover.

The means for agitating the clothing to be laundered are carried by the door 11. These means embody a shaft 16, an operating handle 17, a paddle 18 and cups 19. The shaft 16 is journaled in the cover 11 and the paddle 18 is secured to its lower end in any substantial way so as to turn with the shaft. The paddle 18 projects equi-distant from the shaft 16 in opposite directions and is provided with a plurality of transverse openings 20 so as to insure a thorough agitation of the suds water in the operation of the agitator. The cups 19 are of frustoconical form. A pair of cups is provided at each end of the paddle and the cups are disposed withtheir smaller ends in contact with the paddle to which they are made secure in any substantial way. The cups flare outwardly and being closed operate by a compressive and suction action. This is due to the fact that the agitator is so constructed with reference to the other parts as to receive an oscillatory movement. This causes the paddle 18 and the cups 19 to move backward and forward whereby air confined in the cups is compressed during the forward action of the cups and the latter create a suction on their backward movement. The action of the cups 19 is substantially the same as the ordinary clothes'pounder the action of which is well understood. When the agitator is moved in one direction the advancing cups operate positively by a pushing or compressing action. On reversing the a gitator, the clothes and suds water continue to move in the previous direction of the agitator. As a result, the suds wat er swirls and the receding cups cause a suction. This disturbance is momentary as equalization is almost instantaneously established and then the clothes and suds water move in the reverse direction with the agitator until the latter is again reversed. During the intervals between the reversing of the agitator and the establishing of the equilibrium, the receding cups create a'sug-tion and during the intervals between the establishing of the equilibrium and the reversing of the agitator, the advancing cups operate by a compressive action.

After the cover has been secured to the body, tub or receptacle 1. the clothing to be laundered may be introduced into the tub through the opening 10 by releasing the cover 111 andthrowing the same upward out of the way. It. is to be understood that the tub I will be supplied with suds water in sufiicient quantity. After the suds water and articles of clothing have been placed in the tub the cover 11 is closed and fastened. The washing is effected by oscillating the handle 17 which imparts a corresponding movement to the agitator, whereby the dirt is loosened and removed from the fabric of the articles being washed. After the washmg operation the cover is released and thrown into open position and a wringer, not shown, is fitted to the part 15 after which the articles are removed and passed through the wringer, the surplus water flowing back into the tub 1.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a washing machine, a tub, a vertical shaft in the tub, means for imparting an oscillatory movement to the shaft, a perforated paddle at the inner end of the shaft, and opposed cups at each end of the paddle.

2. In a washing machine, a tub, a vertical shaft in the tub, means for imparting an oscillatory movement to the shaft, a perfoated paddle at the inner end of the shaft projecting equidistanct in opposite directions therefrom, and a pair of cups at each end of the paddle, the cups of each pair having their bottom portions attached to the paddle and the cups flaring outwardly.

3. In a washing machine, comprising a tub, a cover therefor having a central opening, a door closing the opening, a shaft journaled in the door, an operating handle in the outer end of the shaft to impart an oscillatory movement thereto, a perforated paddle at the inner end of the shaft projecting in opposite directions therefrom. and a pair of cups at the outer ends of the paddle, the cups of each pair having their bottom portions attached to the paddle and the cups flaring outwardly.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

orro NELSON.

AMELIA Pane. 

